Section 7-1051.02 - [Not funded.] Hearing Aid Assistance Program(a) There is established the Hearing Aid Assistance Program, to be administered by the Department of Health in consultation with the Department of Disability Services, to provide a reimbursement of up to $500 to offset the purchase of a hearing aid by individuals who are District residents and have an annual household gross income of less than $100,000.(b) To be eligible for the reimbursement provided pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, an individual shall:(1) Complete a Program application, on a form developed by the Department, certifying that the individual is:(A) A resident of the District of Columbia; and(B) Has an annual household gross income of less than $100,000;(2) Provide a receipt certifying the purchase of a hearing aid;(3) Provide a written statement from the individual's health care provider attesting to the medical necessity for obtaining a hearing aid; and(4) Meet all additional requirements and criteria provided for in Program rules promulgated pursuant to subsection (f) of this section.(c)(1) Upon approval of an application submitted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the Program shall provide a reimbursement of up to $500; provided, that:(A) The amount of the reimbursement shall be commensurate with the purchase price of the hearing aid; and(B) Reimbursements shall be contingent upon the availability of funds.(2) Any reimbursement issued pursuant to this subsection shall not be considered income for the purposes of District of Columbia income tax.(d) The Program shall be funded from the following sources: (1) In Fiscal Year 2019, $500,000 in recurring local funds;(e) By January 1, 2020, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Department, in consultation with DDS, shall transmit a report to the Mayor and the Council regarding the performance of the Program in the prior fiscal year, and: (1) If demand for the Program exceeds available funding, the report may include recommendations to the Council to adjust Program eligibility criteria to include children under 14 years of age, residents over 65 years of age, and residents with a disability; or(2) If available funding exceeds demand for the Program, the report may include recommendations to the Council regarding the establishment of a refurbishment initiative to collect and repurpose previously used hearing aids.(f) The Department, pursuant to Title I of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1204; D.C. Official Code § 2-501et seq.), shall issue rules implementing the provisions of this act.July 27, 2018, D.C. Law 22-151, § 3, 65 DCR 6123.Applicability
Applicability of D.C. Law 22-151: § 5 of D.C. Law 22-151 provided that the creation of this section by § 3 of D.C. Law 22-151 is subject to the inclusion of the law's fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan. Therefore that amendment has not been implemented.